Method and system for enveloping a group of toolbar icons

Abstract

A method of enveloping a group of toolbar icons. An application program displays a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes multiple toolbar icons. If a graphical cursor is in proximity to a first toolbar icon, the application displays a graphical border that surrounds the first icon and one or more additional related icons included in a pre-defined toolbar icon group. The application displays a first identification tab that includes a toolbar group name and an icon name. The first tab includes a graphical thumbtack icon that generates a moveable hover window that includes the border, the toolbar icon group, and at least the first tab. The first tab also includes a graphical close icon that removes the moveable hover window from view. The application also displays a second identification tab that includes an icon attribute field corresponding to a current setting of a function of the first icon.

1. A method comprising: in a display device, displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes a plurality of toolbar icons; determining whether or not a graphical cursor is in proximity to a first toolbar icon among the plurality of toolbar icons included in said GUI; in response to a determination that the graphical cursor is in proximity to said first toolbar icon: identifying one or more additional related icons that are included in a same pre-defined toolbar icon group as said first toolbar icon, wherein said one or more additional related icons are currently displayed in said GUI; displaying a graphical border that surrounds said first toolbar icon and said one or more additional related icons, wherein when said one or more additional related icons are not displayed adjacent to one another in said GUI a plurality of separate graphical borders are displayed; wherein said displaying said graphical border includes displaying the graphical border around the one or more related icons in response to a determination that the graphical cursor is in proximity to a toolbar pull-down menu item that corresponds to said plurality of related icons; and displaying a first identification tab in close proximity to said graphical border, wherein said first identification tab comprises: a toolbar group name corresponding to said pre-defined toolbar icon group; an icon name corresponding to said first toolbar icon; a graphical thumbtack icon that generates a moveable hover window in response to input from said graphical cursor, wherein said moveable hover window includes at least said graphical border, copies of each icon in said pre-defined toolbar icon group, and said first identification tab; and a graphical close icon that removes said moveable hover window from view in response to input from said graphical cursor. 
     
     
       2. The method of  claim 1 , further comprising: displaying a second identification tab in close proximity to said graphical border in response to a determination that the graphical cursor is in proximity to said first toolbar icon, wherein said second identification tab includes an icon attribute field corresponding to a current setting of a function performed by said first toolbar icon and a graphical toggle icon that selectively adjusts a value of said icon attribute field; enabling adjusting of the value by toggling the graphical toggle icon; and enabling adjusting of the value by manual alpha-numeric keyboard input. 
     
     
       3. A computer system comprising: a processor; a system memory coupled to said processor; a graphical user interface (GUI) within said system memory; and an application program within said system memory that provides the functions of: displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes a plurality of toolbar icons; determining whether or not a graphical cursor is in proximity to a first toolbar icon among the plurality of toolbar icons included in said GUI; in response to a determination that the graphical cursor is in proximity to said first toolbar icon: identifying one or more additional related icons that are included in a same pre-defined toolbar icon group as said first toolbar icon, wherein said one or more additional related icons are currently displayed in said GUI; displaying a graphical border that surrounds said first toolbar icon and said one or more additional related icons, wherein when said one or more additional related icons are not displayed adjacent to one another in said GUI a plurality of separate graphical borders are displayed; wherein said displaying said graphical border includes displaying the graphical border around the one or more related icons in response to a determination that the graphical cursor is in proximity to a toolbar pull-down menu item that corresponds to said plurality of related icons; and displaying a first identification tab in close proximity to said graphical border, wherein said first identification tab comprises: a toolbar group name corresponding to said pre-defined toolbar icon group; an icon name corresponding to said first toolbar icon; a graphical thumbtack icon that generates a moveable hover window in response to input from said graphical cursor, wherein said moveable hover window includes at least said graphical border, said pre-defined toolbar icon group, and said first identification tab; and a graphical close icon that removes said moveable hover window from view in response to input from said graphical cursor. 
     
     
       4. The computer system of  claim 3 , wherein said application program further comprises means for: displaying a second identification tab in close proximity to said graphical border in response to a determination that the graphical cursor is in proximity to said first toolbar icon, wherein said second identification tab includes an icon attribute field corresponding to a current setting of a function performed by said first toolbar icon and a graphical toggle icon that selectively adjusts a value of said icon attribute field; enabling adjusting of the value by toggling the graphical toggle icon; and enabling adjusting of the value by manual alpha-numeric keyboard input. 
     
     
       5. A computer program product comprising: a computer storage medium; and program code on said computer storage medium that that when executed provides the functions of: displaying a graphical user interface (GUI) that includes a plurality of toolbar icons; determining whether or not a graphical cursor is in proximity to a first toolbar icon among the plurality of toolbar icons included in said GUI; in response to a determination that the graphical cursor is in proximity to said first toolbar icon: identifying one or more additional related icons that are included in a same pre-defined toolbar icon group as said first toolbar icon, wherein said one or more additional related icons are currently displayed in said GUI; displaying a graphical border that surrounds said first toolbar icon and said one or more additional related icons, wherein when said one or more additional related icons are not displayed adjacent to one another in said GUI a plurality of separate graphical borders are displayed; wherein said displaying said graphical border includes displaying the graphical border around the one or more related icons in response to a determination that the graphical cursor is in proximity to a toolbar pull-down menu item that corresponds to said plurality of related icons; and displaying a first identification tab in close proximity to said graphical border, wherein said first identification tab comprises: a toolbar group name corresponding to said pre-defined toolbar icon group; an icon name corresponding to said first toolbar icon; a graphical thumbtack icon that generates a moveable hover window in response to input from said graphical cursor, wherein said moveable hover window includes at least said graphical border, said pre-defined toolbar icon group, and said first identification tab; and a graphical close icon that removes said moveable hover window from view in response to input from said graphical cursor.